Hand attached paddle



June 6, 1961 c. A. BUTERA 2,987,316

HAND ATTACHED PADDLE Filed July 22. 1958 Charles A. Bufera 1 N VEN TORUnited States Patent 2,987,316 HAND ATTACHED PADDLE Charles A. Butera,64 Summit St., Le Roy, N.Y. Filed July 22, 1958, Ser. No. 750,245 1Claim. (Cl. 273-67) The present invention generally relates to a paddlecon struction for use in playing table tennis and more particularlyrelates to a paddle which is mounted directly on the hand of the personusing the device.

In conventional table tennis paddles, there is provided a generallyoval-shaped paddle having a handle extending laterally from one edgethereof generally in parallel relation to the major axis of the paddle.In the use of the conventional paddle, a lot of time and practice isrequired in order to become proficient in the use of the paddle since itis necessary to accurately orientate the handle and paddle for properlymeeting the ball so that the same may be projected in the desiredmanner. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present inventionto provide a simple paddle which has a natural feeling when being usedand incorporates two similar paddles interconnected by spaced resilientblocks with the paddles being disposed in converging relation and forreceiving a hand therebetween so that the thumb may engage over aspacing block thus directly mounting the paddles on the hand with onepaddle overlying the palm area of the hand and the other paddleoverlying the rear surface of the hand so that a ball may be struck byone of the paddles by proper manipulation of the persons hand andconsequently manipulation of the paddle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hand attachedpaddle which provides a natural feeling when in use, can be used oneither hand, strikes with either face without shifting of position, fitsin the hand, and retaining the striking face of the paddles at the exactdirection and position of the players intended hand direction andrelatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the paddle of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passingalong section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generallydesignates the paddle construction of the present invention whichincludes a first plate or paddle member 12 and a second plate or paddlemember 14 each of which are generally oval-shaped in configuration andprovided with planar inner and outer surfaces. The first and secondpaddles 12 and 14 are held in spaced relation by a pair of spacers 16which are constructed of relatively resilient material such as rubberand which are bonded to the inner faces of the paddles 12 and 14.

2,987,316 Patented June 6 1961 ice Each of the spacers 16 is elongatedand relatively narrow in width and provided with rounded ends asdesignated by the numeral 18 and each of the spacers 16 are spacedinwardly from the side edges of the panels 12 and 14. As clearly shownin FIGURE 3, the paddles 12 and 14 converge towards each other and, asshown in FIGURE 2, the spacers 16 converge towards each other. Thedistance between the spacers or partitions 16 is such that theforefingers 20 on a hand 22 may be inserted therebetween with the thumb24 lying against the outer surface of one of the spacers 16. Thus, thepalm or thick portion of the hand 22 is received in between the portionof the paddles 12 and 14 which are spaced the greatest distance apart.

The outer surfaces of each of the paddles 12 and 14 is provided with arubberized material 26 of a non-skid nature which may be that type ofmaterial which is conventionally applied to the surface of aconventional table tennis paddle. The relationship of the paddles to thehand is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 2 and due to the symmetry of thepaddles, the paddles may be used effectively for engagement with a tabletennis ball and the device may be used effectively on either hand. Thistype of paddle completely eliminates the handle of a conventional typeof table tennis paddle and allows the hand to act almost instinctivelyin orientating the paddle in a proper manner so that the paddle willmeet the ball precisely in the right place, at the right time and withthe paddle in the proper angle in relation to the ball in order toreturn the ball to an opponent in accurate and precise manner.

While the materials may vary, one contemplated material is theconstruction of the paddles from a pressed fiberboard material with thespaces or partitions being of extruded rubber and bonded to the paddlesand with the resilient material 26 bonded to the paddles.

It is noted that the spacers are offset slightly towards one side of thepaddles with this spacing being such that the center of the paddle liessomewhat along the point of juncture between the hand and the secondfinger. The over-all length of the paddle may conveniently be 7 inchesand the over-all width 6% inches with the area of the paddles beingsufficient to extend completely over the hand.

The height of the spacers 16 is inch at the forward or outer end and 1%inches at the inner end thereby accommodating the taper of the hand andfrictionally engaging the same. The spacers hug the hand both front andback with the thumb clamping over the spacer and thus holding it on thehand. The spacers also flex to receive hands of various shape and size.Also, the inside surfaces of the panels 12 and 14 are rubberized orcoated with similar non-skid material for preventing the paddle fromslipping off the hand during play. The edges of both panels are bevelledas on a conventional paddle.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A hand attached device comprising a pair of oppositely faced spacedpaddles, a pair of spaced opposite partition members forming spacersextending between said paddles and holding the same in spaced relation,said 5 hands, and said pair of spacers being ofiset laterally of acenter line of said paddles to offset the paddles laterally of suchfinger portions to facilitate manipulation of the paddles by a hand.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,717,026 Hammett June 11, 1929 1,930,281 Ogden Oct. 10, 1933 FOREIGNPATENTS 156,982 Austria Sept. 11, 1939 1,087,402 France Feb. 23, 1955

